Refrigerator latch



Nav. 15, 1938.

Sigi..

L. L.. ANDERSON REFMGERATOR LATCH Filed Oct. 18, 1937 29 l ,la

'ia 1 i@ l0 4a 2 Sheets-Sheet l NOV l5, 1938- l l.. ANDERSON 2,136,662

' R'EFRIGERATOR LATCH Filed oct. 18, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov.15, 1938 UNITED STATES 2.13am nEFniGEnA'roa LATCH Lloyd L.AndersonfGrand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Winters & CramptonCorporation, Grandville, Mich., a corporation of Michigan ApplicationOctober 18, 1937, Serial No. 169,632

Claims.

This inventionrelates to latches adapted to be used in holding doors ina closed position. The latch of the present invention is of particularutility for use with refrigerators, though not limited to refrigeratoruse alone.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to produce avery useful, practical and efllcient latch at a low cost of manufactureand with a. utilization of a minimum number of parts in the constructionof the latch. A further object of the invention is to provide a latch inwhich the release thereof is accomplished through a veryshort movementof the holding means which maintains the latch in its operative l5vlatched position, thereby decreasing the size of the latch and the sizeofithe supporting structure on which the movable latch bolt is mounted,resulting in greater economy of manufacture and simplicity in structureand operation.

The invention may be understood from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 yis a fragmentary lhorizontal section through the free edgeportion of a refrigerator door and the adjacent door casing, showing thelatch which is mounted on the door in plan view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation and section substantially on the plane ofline 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the latch.

Fig. 4 is a similar section with the latch bolt in retracted position,and

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on `the plane of line 5-5 ofFig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views.

1n the construction of the latch, a supporting housing of channel formis provided, having a web I and spaced apart sides 2, the free edgeportions of which are turned outwardly at right angles, making anges 2athrough which screws or other suitable fastening devices are passed tosecure the latch to the door. prises a latching dog or head 3 to theopposite sides of which metal bars 4 are permanently secured adjacentone end and extend inwardly between the sides 2 of the support. Saidbars 4 at the end portions thereof farthest away from the head 3 arelongitudinally slotted for a distance, as indicated at 5.

A pin 6 extends through the slots B on which, between the bars 4, amember is pivctaliy mount- 55 ed comprising two spaced apart arms lconnect- The latch bolt corn-k ed by an integral cross member 8. Thepivot pin 6 extends through the arm l at one end and near the oppositeend a pin 9 extends through said arms 'l and also through the sides 2 ofthe support on which it is permanently mounted. The latch bolt, pivotpin .6, the pin 9 and the structure comprised of the parts 1 and 8, ineect provide a toggle, the knuckle of which is at. the pivot pin 6.

Between the head 3 and the pivot pin 6 a relatively heavy coiledcompression spring I Iiis located, the inner end thereof passing overthe reduced end II of a spring locating member which is mounted on thepin 6, while the opposite end passes over a projection I2 which extendsinwardly from the head 3 of the latch bolt. The latch bolt head 3 andthe pins 4 attached thereto are thus permitted an inward longitudinalmovement with respect to the pin` 6, the extent of which is governed bythe length of the slots 5. Such movement is resisted by the coiledspring I0.

The latch bolt in its latched position is disposed against the web I ofthe support with the axes of the pins 6 and 9 disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to said web I, as in Figs. 1 and 3. The head 3 ofthe bolt is received in a U- shaped guide including a cross connectingportion I3 and spaced apart legs I4. Said legs lie inside the sides 2 ofthe support and permanently secured by spot `welding or other equivalentconnections. The latch bolt therefore may be retracted in two ways. One,by direct inward movement with a compression of the spring I0 and theother, by a pivotal movement of the arms 1 in a counterclockwisedirection about the pin 9, thereby breaking the toggle `and moving tothe position shown in Fig. 4.

In each of the sides 2 of the supporting member of the latch, slots I5are cut each including an oiset portion I6 connected with the longerpart o'i the slot by an inclined slot portion (see Fig. 3). The offsetI6 of the slot is located nearest the pivot 6 and directly in frontthereof. A pin I1 passes through said slots and extends between andthrough the sides 2 of the support and is adapted to traverse the slotsfrom the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to a position to the rightthereof. At one of the edges of the slots the met- `al which is struckfrom the sides 2 of the support is pressed outwardly, making ledges I8,one for each slot (see Fig. 1) to minimize the effects of wear on thepin I1 in its movements lengthwise of the slots.

Spaced apart links I9, connected by an integral cross member 20, areconnected with the pins 6 and I1, the pins passing through opposite endsof said links. A coiled tension spring 2I of relatively light strengthis located around the pin 3 and has one arm 22 thereof bearing againstthe web I of the support and the other end 23 bearing against the pinI1,thereby tending to move said pin I1 to the left (Figs. 1 and 3)intothe offsets I3 of said slots in the sides 2.

When the latch bolt-is in its operative latching position, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, the links I3 are disposed at right angles to a lineconnecting the axes of the pivots 3 and 9. The pin I1 bears against theouter sides of the offset portions I3 of theslots Il, providing apositive stop against breaking of the toggle lever from the position inFig. 3, to that shown in Fig. 4. But by moving the pin I1 along theshorter offset portions I3 of the slots, the stop against breaking thetoggle is-rendered ineffective, and the pin I1 traversing the inclinedportion of the slot breaks the toggle toward the position shown in Fig.4,

. thereby retracting the latching bolt head 3 as is evident.

As shown in Fig. l, the latch having the structure described is mountedon and within a door,

such as a refrigerator door, which door is hingedly mounted at one ofits vertical edges on the refrigerator, the latch being mounted adjacentthe opposite vertical edge so that the bolt head 3 may project beyondthe edge of the door back of the outwardly extending lip 25 on the doorwhich passes over the front side of the adjacent door casing 21 of therefrigerator; and on which a cushioning gasket 23 of rubber is securedwhich is compressed when the door is closed and the l bolt has engagedwith the keeper 23 on the door frame, thereby providing a tight sealagainst the entrance of warm air and the escape of refrigeration. Withthe head 3 of the bolt engaged with the keeper and with the parts of thelatch in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the door is held securelyin closed position and cannot be opened until the pin I1 has been movedto the right in the slots I5. A slight movement only of the pin I1 oruntil it has moved only sufilcient to break the toggle outwardly andstarted it toward the position shown in Fig. 4 is required, whereuponthe compressed cushioning members 23 exert their force against the outerside of the bolt head 3 to move it still farther from the initialposition shown in Fig. 3 tothat shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the bolt iswithdrawn from engagement with the keeper, the inner end of the plates 4yforming a part of the bolt following the path of an arc about the axisof the pivot 9.

The invention in this application is directed primarily to the latchstructure which has been described. One means is shown for efi'ectivelylmoving said pin I1` to release the latch and thereby permit the door tobe opened. It is, however, to be understood that such releasing means isone` only of a large number of manually operable releasing means whichmay be used with the latch structure disclosed; and that the inventionis not in any sense to be restricted or limited to the particular latchbolt releasing means shown in the drawings and now about to bedescribed.

As one form of bolt releasing means, two plates 23, preferably of theform shown. are pivotally mounted on a pin 30, the axis of which issubstantially in alinement with the axes of the pins 3 and I1 when thebolt is in operative latching position (Fig. 3). Said plates are locatedat the inner sides oi the sides 2 of the support and the pivot pin 33therefore at its ends is mounted on the said sides 2. Ihe plates ineffect are bell crank levers, the pivot being at one end of one of thearms of said levers and the other arms of said levers lying against thepin I1, as in Fig. 3. A pin 3i connects the two plates 29 at the elbowsthereof a short distance to one side of the pivot 30. Ayoke 32 isconnected with the pin 3| at one end and at its opposite end to a pushrod 33 which passes through the front side of the door 24 and into aspace to receive it made in a handle 34,' attached to the door, whichhas a web 35 between its side edges reaching to the door and into whichthe pin 33 extends. A coiled spring 36 surrounds the pin within saidweb. A push bar 31 has flanges 38 lat its inner edge, the narrowerportion of the pushl bar extending through a slot in the handle 34; Theouter end of the pin 33 comes against the inner side of the push bar 31.An inward movement of the push bar, caused by pressing against it 'withthe handy of the operator, compresses the spring 31, moves the pin 33inwardly, turns the plates 29 in a clockwise direction about the pin 30,and thereupon moves the pin I1 to the right vand out of the shorteroffset portions I6 of the slots I5, breaking the toggle of the latchstructure, whereupon the door will be swung open and the latch bolt takethe position shown in Fig. 4. When the latch bolt is released from itskeeper and the door is opened, a release of the push bar 31 permits thespring 36 to move it to its outer position and the spring 2| will causethe latch parts to swing back to the initial position shown in Fig. 3.On closing .the door with the parts of the latch in such position, theinner cam side of the head 3 rides over the inclined cam side of thekeeper 28, the bolt head 3 with the attached bars 4 moving bodily inwardwith a compression of the spring I0 until the nose of the head of the'latch bolt .3 passes by the nose of the keeper, whereupon spring I0projects the latch bolt outwardly to have the head 3 thereof engage inthe keeper recess, as in Fig. l.

From the foregoing description the construction and operation of thelatch which I have produced is evident and may be clearly understood.The latch structure is made chiefly from sheet metal parts which arereadily stamped and formed by dies. 'I'he assembly is simple and easy.'I'he throw required to releaseI the latch bolt is reduced to a minimum,and the i'lnal retraction of the latch bolt is helped and in many casesprovidedlsolely Aby the force of compression of the ygasket V2li, whichis compressed when the door is -latched `in closed position. The togglestructure of Ithe latch and the abutmentl or stop means employed toprevent the toggle from breaking* so as to release the latch bolt fromthe keper is simple, yet particularly practial, effective, andeconomical to build. f

'I'he invention is defined in the appended claims and is not to belimited other than may be necessitated by the terms of such claims.

1. A latch structure comprising, a support having spaced apart connectedsides, a latch bolt guide between said sides of the support and 1ocatedat one end thereof, a member pivot-ally connected at one end to andlying between the sides of the support, said pivotal connection beingAadjacent the opposite end of the support, a latchv bolt pivotallyconnected to the inner end of said member and guided in said guide, saidbolt and member normally lying in substantial alinement, a second memberpivotally connected to 7gy support at the edges of said slots farthestawayl the same pivot which connects the first member and bolt andnormally extending at right angles to the bolt and connected firstmember, the sides of said support having slots therein, a pin extendingthrough the free end portion of said second member and seated at itsends inand adapted to traverse the slots, the material defining saidslots furnishing an abutment against which the pin bears when the latchbolt yand first member are in alinement with each other, therebypreventing movement of the latch bolt and connected member, and saidslots being formed with angular portions adapted to be traversed by saidpin whereby said latch bolt and iirst member may be moved, as specified.

2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 1, combined with a third member pivotaily mounted on and betweenthe sides of the support and adapted to engage with a side of the pin,the pivot of said third member being in substantial alinement with thepivotal connections of said latch bolt and said secondv memberrespectively, and means for manually turning said third member againstthe pin to move said pin in said slots and thereby free the latch boltand connected member for movement.

3. A latch structure containing the elements in combination defined in.claim 1, combined with a torsion spring surrounding. the pivotalmounting of said rst member, the ends of said spring -bearlng againstsaid pin and against the support respectively; thereby tending to returnthe latch bolt and said members connected therewith to initial position.f

4. A latch comprising, a support having spaced apart sides connected atone edge by a web, a latch bolt guide carried by and between the sidesof the support adjacent one end thereof and spaced from the web wherebythe web forms a part of said guide, a latch bolt comprising a bolt headand parallel bars connected one at each side of the latch bolt andextending invwardly therefrom between the sides of the support, theinner end portions off-said bars being longitudinally slotted, a'membercomprising two spaced apart sides connected by a cross barpivotally mounted at the outer ends of said sides on and between thesides of said support and adjacent the opposite end thereof, said sideseX- tending to and between the bars of the latch bolt, a pin extendingthrough the inner ends of the sides of said member and through the slotsin said bars of the latch bolt, a coiled compression spring interposedbetween said pivot pin and the bolt head, a' second member comprisingtwo spaced ,apart sides connected by a cross bar pivotaily connected tothe ends of said pivot pin and normally extending at right angles tosaid web and to said latch bolt, a pin passing through the opposite endsof the sides of said second member, the sides of said support havingslots through which the end portions of said pin pass,

said slots containing two sections substantially parallel to the planeof the web connected by annular sections, the inner end portions of theslots being nearest to the web and locatedM so that when said lastmentioned 'pin is at :the inner ends of the slots its axis and the axisof the first pin arev located in a plane substantially perpendicular tothe plane of said web.

5. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 4, said sides of the from the web having outwardly extendingbearing ledges for said second pin.

6. A construction containing the elements in combination dened in 'claim4, combined with,

pivotaily mounted manually operable means for engaging against saidsecond pin and moving it in said slots, as and for thepurposesspeciiled.

7. A latch structure comprising, a support having spaced apart sides, alatch bolt guide between the sides of the support and located adjacentone end thereof, a member pivotaily connected at one end adjacent theopposite end of the support and lying between the sides thereof, a latchbolt pivotaily connected to the' inner end of said member and guided insaid guide, said bolt and member normally lying in substantialalinement, a secondmember pivotaily connected at the pivotal juncture ofthe first member and bolt and normally extending substantially at rightangles thereto, a pin extending through the free end portion of saidsecond member, said sides of said support having slots therein throughwhich the pin extends, and the material denn- ,ing said slots providingan abutment against which the pin bears when the latch bolt and rstmember are in alinement with each other, thereby holding the boltagainst movement.

8. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim '7, combined with pivotaily mounted manually operable means for.moving said pin in the slots to free the latch for movement.

9. A latch structure comprising, a support having spaced apart sides, alatch bolt guide secured to and between said sides-of the supportadjacent one end thereof, a member pivotaily connected at one end to andbetween the sides of the support adjacent the opposite end of saidsupport, a latch bolt pivotaily connected to the inner end of saidmember and guided in said guide, a second member pivotaily connected tosaid latch bolt and rst member at the pivotal connection thereof andadapted to normally extend at right angles to said latch bolt and firstmember, interengaging means at the opposite end of the second member andthe sides of said support for holding all of the members in a positionagainst movement, and manually operable means for releasing saidinterengaging means whereby the latch bolt may be tilted and re-ytracted in said guide.

10. A latch structure comprising, a support having spaced apart sides, alatch bolt guide carried between and at one end of the sides, a memberpivotaily connected at one end adjacent the opposite ends of said sides,a latch bolt pivotaily connected to the inner end of said member andguided in said guide. said latch bolt and member normally being'locatedin alinement and providing a toggle structure, a second member pivotailyconnected at one end to said latch bolt and first member at the pivotalconnection thereof, interengaging meanson said second member and the`support for lholding said second member in a position substantially atright angles to the length o1' said, latch bolt and first member whenthe same are in alinement, and manually operable means for moving saidsecond member to thereby release the latch bolt and permit it to tiltand move lengthwise in said guide, as specified.

Y LLGYD L. ANDERSON.

